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Ask the Name Lady

Do Two "Sons" Make Sense for Our New Son?

Feb 22nd 2016

I've had my heart set on the name Jackson since I was a little girl. Then, lo and behold, I end up marrying a man with the middle name Jackson whose grandfather's first name is Jackson. So not only do I love the name, it is a family name too. My husband also loves the name. The problem is, our last name is Davidson. I didn't even realize it until someone brought it to my attention: Jackson Davidson, both having the –son ending. What do you think?

–Just Love Jackson

I think you can work with a name that has some shared sounds. In fact, an echoed syllable or bit of alliteration is often desirable in a baby name. It gives the two parts of the name a pleasant connection.

Tipping over into an abundance of shared sounds (like Miles Meyers) or a sing-songy pattern (like Colleen Killeen) goes too far. But in your case, the three-syllable surname keeps the name from sounding too repetitive. It doesn't rhyme since Jack and David, the beginnings of the names, are completely different.

Was the original Jackson, your husband's grandfather, a Davidson too? Then you have a precedent for the name! You could even use that Jackson's middle name for your son as well, making him Jackson ___ Davidson II (he would not be a junior since he would not be sharing his father's name, only his great-grandfather’s). That gives the name the extra weight of tradition, without the extra confusion that Juniors often carry.

But it isn't necessary. If the double –son endings really bother your son, he can always go by Jack instead of Jackson. But since you and your partner love the name, and it honors two family members, that carries the most weight of all.

Loving it! I ended up marrying someone whose uncle's name is the same as my maiden surname, so I keep my maiden name in the mix for his sake as well as honoring my dad. I consider it a family name just as much as his surname is now part of my family history.

I also have a last name ending in -son, and for me, I feel like any name just ending in an -n are out...so names ending in a -son are completely not an option to me. I think it's just a little much. But that's personal taste. If you didn't even notice it, maybe it's fine for you.

Sorry but in all honesty I think Jackson Davidson (or Anythingson Anythingson) sounds awkward, and if I heard it I would probably assume the parents just went for something trendy without giving any thought to how it sounded with their last name. I think just Jack would make a fine tribute to Jackson.

I say no. I always wonder what parents were thinking when they name their kid: Phillip Phillips, Richard Richardson... And for me, Jackson Davidson follows in that same category. There might be a reason your husband has Jackson as a middle name.. I'd personally follow that example, but to each his own. :)